Significant changes might be coming for the New York Rangers. On a recent 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman suggested that the Rangers are still looking for the right mix for their personnel. However, the Insider speculates that the Rangers could be looking to shift a player we've all been calling for the head of. Elliotte Friedman wonders if the Rangers could attempt to move Mika Zibanejad's contract. This would be a big statement from Chris Drury if he could pull it off.
Mika makes $8.5 million per season and is in year three of his eight-year extension, which he signed with the Rangers. Complete with a no-movement clause, the Rangers have been hamstrung with this contract, we all thought. But David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period suggests that Mika Zibanejad could waive his NMC for the right situation. Hence, this now becomes a question of finding the right fit for Zibanejad.
While Mika's production hasn't been at the 90-point pace it was when he signed that deal, he's still got six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 36 games this season. That's substantial production, even if it isn't what he once flashed. Mika would improve the powerplay of almost any team in the NHL, so the market for him will exist, but the Rangers need to find the right fit to sell him out the door.
There may need to be substantial retention from Rangers general manager Chris Drury. Mika's signed until he's 37; no one will want that contract if he continues this decline. However, at a cheaper cap hit with the Rangers bitting into it for a few years, there might be a situation where the Blueshirts get enough of an offer to make a difference. We'll see what comes in the following weeks ahead of the trade deadline, but this is a rumor many wanted to see.